Galway is in line for a significant boost in January with the arrival of the International Rally.
According to research carried out in a joint study by University of Ulster and the Sligo Institute of Technology the city and county is in line for a boost to the tune of €3.6m to the local economy when the rally arrives in town.
TV coverage of the event is broadcast to an average viewership of 150,000 through national TV stations and internationally the programme is broadcast in over 30 countries, raising awareness of Galway world wide.
Speaking on the announcement, Paul Shelly, President of Galway Chamber of Commerce said, “Galway Chamber welcomes the Safety Direct Galway International Rally to Galway. We also welcome the participants and followers and appreciate the sporting and economic boost that the event will bring to Galway in January. As with any other major sporting event Galway offers the best in tourism infrastructure and ‘apres rally’ entertainment. We thank the organisers for choosing Galway and hope that this year’s event is the best ever.”
Alan Fair of Safety Direct added, “This is a very exciting event for Safety Direct to be involved with. An occasion of this scale is wonderful for Galway city and county and we are only too happy to be a part of it bringing so much revenue to the area and local businesses.”
The event will run from January 16 to 18 in 2009. The ceremonial start will take place in Eyre Square on Friday 16 January with competitors returning to Eyre Square for the finish ramp on Sunday January 18.
Further information will be available on www.galwayinternationalrally.com
